NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2013 /Emag.co.uk/ — It’s the most wonderful time of the year… at least that’s what the songs on the radio and in the stores say. And, for Americans, there are good things and bad things about the holiday season. On the good side, half of Americans (52%) say they most look forward to spending time with friends and family during the holiday season. Fewer numbers say they most look forward to holiday dinners and parties (9%), finding and giving presents (9%), putting up holiday decorations (7%), watching television specials and hearing holiday songs on the radio (6%) and getting presents (2%), while one in ten (9%) say they do not look forward to the upcoming holidays.

On the not so good side, one-quarter of Americans (27%) say the one thing they dislike most about the holidays is spending too much money, while for just under one-quarter (23%) it is the holiday shopping crowds. Less than one in ten say what they dislike most about the holidays is putting up and taking down holiday decorations (7%), television specials and holiday songs (5%), finding and giving presents (5%), eating and drinking too much (5%), and spending time with friends and family (2%). But for almost one in five U.S. adults (18%) there is nothing wrong with the holidays, as they say they like everything about the season.

Holiday SongsOne thing that never seems to change from holiday season to holiday season is the incessant barrage of songs that are played on the airwaves and in stores. And, sometimes, the same songs can be loved and hated. Topping the list of the songs people most look forward to each holiday season is Silent Night, followed by White Christmas and then Jingle Bells. Rounding out the top five are Oh Holy Night and Little Drummer Boy. Next, at sixth on the list, is The Christmas Song then Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, followed by All I Want for Christmas is You, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

By the end of the season, the number one song people wish they could never hear again is Jingle Bells, followed by Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and White Christmas. Rounding out the top ten songs people don’t want to hear again by December 26th are Silent Night, Jingle Bell Rock, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Frosty the Snowman and Alvin and the Chipmunks’ Christmas Song. Interestingly, five songs are on both of these lists.

TV Specials and Holiday MoviesBesides the songs, there are also the animated specials and holiday movies. Looking at animated specials, the sad little tree and the true meaning of Christmas in A Charlie Brown Christmas may be reasons it is the favorite animated TV special. This is followed by the reindeer that saves Christmas in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer¸ then the magic of a Christmas snow in Frosty the Snowman, the mean one whose heart grew three sizes that day in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and what would Christmas be without the Heat Miser and Cold Miser in The Year Without a Santa Claus at number 5.

For holiday movies, it’s all about the bb gun and A Christmas Story is America’s favorite holiday movie. Next is a classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, followed by White Christmas, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Carol. One classic and four more modern films round out the top ten, with A Miracle on 34th Street at number six, followed by Home Alone, Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Santa Clause.

MethodologyThis Harris Poll was conducted online within the United Statesbetween November 13 and 18, 2013 among 2,250 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words “margin of error” as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.

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The Harris Poll®#94, December 10, 2013By Regina A. Corso, SVP, Harris Poll and Public Relations Research

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